Viceroy of Zhili
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The Viceroy of Zhílì (直隸總督/直隶总督), fully referred to as the Governor General of Zhili and surrounding areas; Overseeing Military Affairs, Food Production; Manager of Waterways; Director of Civil Affairs (總督直隸等處地方，提督軍務、糧餉、管理河道兼巡撫事), was one of eight viceroys of the Qing Dynasty in China.
It was an important post, because the territory of Zhili (lit. directly ruled) Province, now referred to as the Hebei Province, was surrounding area of Beijing. The seat of Viceroyalty was in Tianjin, although the capital of the province was situated at Baoding. The responsibility of the position has never been defined entirely. Generally speaking, the viceroy oversaw the military and civil affairs of Zhili, Shandong and Henan Provinces. In 1870, the responsibility of the Viceroy also merged with the position of Minister of Beiyang (北洋通商大臣), and the Viceroy was usually a very important player in the Court politics of Beijing.
The position was created and abolished several times. It was initially created by the Shunzhi Emperor on September 30, 1649. However, the Emperor abolished the post on June 1, 1658. The second creation of the post was on November 23, 1661, and cancelled later on July 28, 1669 by Kangxi Emperor. The third creation was taken place on December 14, 1724, during the second year of Yongzheng Emperor's reign, and lasted out till the fall of the Qing Dynasty.
Since the creation of the position in 1649 to 1912, 81 people had held the position. Some eminent individuals included Li Wei, Tang Zhiyu, Fang Guancheng, Zeng Guofan, and Yuan Shikai. Late Qing diplomat, general, and politician Li Hongzhang occupied the position for a period of 25 years in total, during the height of his political career.
